Bread slicing machine



March 14, 1939. H J. CRINE R 2,150,427

' BREAD SuciNG MACHINE 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 Fil ed Feb; 4," 1938 ATTORNEYS.

,H CR|NER BREAD SLICVING MACHINE 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4

A TORNEYS.

i Patented Mar. "14, 1939 BREAD stlcmo MACHINE JaCriner, Davenport, Iowa, assignor of onehalf to A. G. Bush, Davenport' lowa Application February 4, 1938, Serial No. isssoi f 9' 19 Claims. (01.146 88) My invention relates to bread slicing machines and is applicable to multiple-bladed slicing machines of either the reciprocating or endless band-blade type. 1

5 The objects of my invention are to provide'improved, readily adjustable, means'forguiding and spacing'the blades" of a slicing machine which will be capable also of supporting or carrying the blades of a reciprocating machine. m I accomplish these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an endless band-blade machine employing a single endless band-blade reeved in mu'ltiple'figure 8 loops over two spaced cylinders or drums.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the same machine;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the shafts supporting the spacing members with a spacing member mounted thereon, in section on the line 3-3 of Figure 4; i

Figure 4 shows an enlarged sectional detail on.

the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the threaded adjusting members;

Figures 6 and '7 are enlarged details of the washer-like detents, whileFigure 10 is a sectional detail of one of the flngerson the line Ill-l of Figure 3; H Figure 8 shows a front elevation partly in section, and

Figure 9 is an end elevation of a blade-carrying frame fitted'with my invention to carry, space and. adjust the spacing of the blades.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have showna band-blade vents the threaded flangefrom being withdrawn machine comprising a vertical column, I, with supporting feet, ll andli', united thereto.

Multiple-bladed pulleysor drums, l2 and I3,

are revolvably mounted upon parallel shafts, l

and I4, in hubs, 3 and Lat the top and bottom of the column, I I, respectively, with. a band blade, 3|, reeved upon such pulleys and crossing 'in figure 8 form; I

A crossarm, 39, is united to the frame and ex- I) tends transversely of the machine below the line of travel of the bread and has a pair of shafts, 38 and 38", rigidly mounted therein near the opposite ends thereofup'on which the idler pulleys, 35 and. 36, are revolvably mounted. The shafts, 38 and 38', may be mounted atgany desired angle to each other to facilitate the travel ,of the blade around the pulleys, 36 and 35.

The portion, 32, of the band-blade runs from the upper drum, H, to and under .the idler pul-. ley, 35, and thence overthe pulley, 36, and down tothe-Iower drum, 3|, the last-mentioned s an 6: the blade being numbered, '33; and. the portion intermediate thepulleys, 35 and 36, being numbered 32', v Theupperguide assembly compri shaft, l8, which has one end rigidly. but-'removably united to af hub, 5, formed integralwiththe col- "-umn,=-l, or connected theretoby ashoulder, I, and extends transverselyof; the machine..;.;Above and parallelwith the shaft, l8, limount a shaft, 10 l9, which, is likewisetremovably-united 'to the "-hub,.5, on the column, Land may be-secured by a press-fit or any other desired means. 2

Upon the shaft, 18, are slidingly mounted a plurality of adjusting members each having-fan annular body, 25, threaded upon its interior face and a projecting annular flange formed integral therewith. Each flange is provided with a peripheral groove, 25a, and the portion of the flange beyond the groove has threads, 25b, formed upon its periphery, the threads of the flanges corresponding with the innerthreads,

of the bodies so as to mesh'therewith when invjuxtaposition.

.In-order to secure the flange threads in per- 25 manent mesh with the interior body threads, the

desired number of adjusting members are slidingly mounted upon the shaft, l8, and threaded together. The washers, 40, are formed in two halves as shown in Figure 6. This allows the half washers to be inserted between successive adjusting members and two complementary halves are then spot-welded tothe end of the adjacent body of the adjusting member as shown at .40 in Figure 4 and form a detent which prefrom the adjusting member withwhich it is in mesh.

The, outermost, adjusting member is provided with means by which it may be manually revolved 4 'upon the shaft, l8, as by'a squarehead, 21,

adapted to be engaged by a socket wrench.-

Theinnermost adjusting member is rigidly secured to the shaft, l8,'by'a pin, 20, orother suit- V bers to be drawn closer together by the threads described within the limits permitted by the dimensions of the parts,.and when the outer member is turned in the opposite direction, it will cause the adjusting members to be retracted or separated by the action ofthe threads described 5 within the limits permitted by their dlmensiena The threads are preferably formed loosely enough to turn freely and in that condition, the movement of the adjusting members will be in succession so the outermost member'will travel until it reaches its permissible limit-before will cause the next adjusting membei' toand so on throughout the entire series .iuitil alljflf the adjusting members are bunched togetherris closely as possible or separatedv to their possible extent,

Upon each oneof the adjusting membersli,

I mount a spacing member, 23, in which the'adjusting member is free to revolve; To retain the spacing members upon their relative adjusting members, the body of each adjusting member is provided with a peripheral groove, 26a, and a pin or set screw, 26, is secured in each spacing Each spacing member is also provided with ad projecting finger, 22, which may be formed integral with the spacing member or united'thereto by any suitable means, I

The finger, 22, is slotted to permitintroduction therein of a slicing blade to be guided and spaced thereby. a

In band-blade machines, I "prefer to form these slots curved as shown inFigure 10 so as to prevent the edges of the slots from rubbingagainst' the blades, and to form them with a diameter slightly greater than the thickness of the blades.- In reciprocating machines, the slots are preferably straight and fit closely to the blades.

When used in band-blade machines, the fingers are preferably secured in the position necessary to guide and control the bread as it is being sliced,

but in reciprocating machines the fingers not only space and guide the blades butalso carry or support and drive the blades in their travel.

-I have described the upper guide assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The lower guide assembly corresponds in every waywith the upper one, but is in inverted position, the fingers of the lower guide assembly being at the upper part 7 thereof and the shaft, 29, being located below the shaft, 24.

In the reciprocating type 'o'f'slicing machines,

the transverse shaftsupon which the assemblies are slidingly mounted, are fixed in a movable frame, the upper and lower members, and fl', of which are provided with longitudinal slots and the pins, 46, are united tothespacing members severally and project through theslots. and the adjustingvmembersare thereby prevented from turning.

The upper shaft, I5, is preferably mounted in an eccentric bearing in the hub, 3, the position of which maybe adjusted by the handle, 9, so as to take upanyslack in the blade, or the shafts, 38 and 38, may be adjustably mounted upon the crossarm, 39, to afford additional means for tensioning the blade, 3|.

While I have shown a thin, divided washer spotwelded to the adjusting arms to form a detent to prevent complete separation of the adjusting members, it is obvious-various forms of detent for this purpose may be adopted, the main requirement being that the-detent shall be rigidly arenas the onte'innd' tithe interiorly'tineaded toward the --axis to engage the threaided'mtiim of thefiangeand-prevent complete 'thereof.

portion of the 'body and must project.

The groove, :52; is vmade substantially wider It is common practice to slice white bread-in slices approximately half an inch thick and to slice rye bread 'in slices approximately threeeighths of an inch thick, and my machine is designed to give a variation of approximately one- 1 eighth of an inch between the thicker and thinner slices and to be readily adjustable for the purpose of cutting either thickness of slices that may be desired, but is not intended for cutting slices of an intermediate'thickness.

Various modifications of the different parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and Ida not limit my claims to'the precise forms shown in the drawings.

In Figure 9 the blades, 4|, are-secured to the fingers of the spacing members by pins, and 42", and may be provided with compression springs, lib, to maintain desired tension on the blades. I

I'claim:

1; In a bread slicing machine, the combination with supporting means, of a plurality of slicing blades traveling therein, a transverse shaft carthan thewas'her or detent, 40, so as'inpermit rriairiinumtravel equal to the differencebetween' the thicker and thinner slices-of bread which this machine is intended to cut.

ried by the supporting means, a series of tubular adjusting members slidably mountedupon the shaft each having an interiorly threaded 'head and an exteriorly threaded neck jvith a relatively wide peripheral groove formed therein, the exterior threads of each member being engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member,; narrow detents united to the heads of each members entering and engaging the grooves in the next preceding members respectively, one terminal member of the, series being rigidly united to the shaft, and the opposite terminal member having an extension by whichit may be manually revolved upon the shaft to cause the intermediate members to successively revolve upon the shaft in the same direction up to the limit of their travel, a corresponding series of annular spacing members severally mounted upon the heads of the adjusting members which are free to rotate therein but secured against lateral separation by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extending into peripheral grooves formed in the heads, arms united to the spacing members, and means tosecure the spacing members from rotation upon the adjusting members;

2. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting column, of a pair of adjustably spaced cylindrical pulleys revolvably mounted therein, an endless band blade reeved upon the pulleys to form a; plurality of figure 8 loops, a pair of spaced transverse shafts carried by the supporting'means, opposed series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon' the shafts respectively, each having an interiorly.

threaded head and air exteriorly threaded neck member, means rigidly uniting one terminal.

member of each series to its shaft, means formed upon the opposite terminal member for'manualseries which are free to rotate therein but secured againstlateral separation-by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extending into peripheral grooves formed in the heads, arms united to the spacing members to engage, guide and space the blades incorrespondencewith the spacing of the spacing members, and means to secure the spacing members from rotation.-

3,. In abread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting column, of a pair of adjustably t spaced cylindrical -pulleys revolvably mounted pulleys to form a minal me mber for """anually'rotating it upon its therein, an endless band blade reeved upon the pair of spaced transverseshafts carried by the supporting means, opposed series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon the shafts respectively, each havingan interiorly threaded ,head and an .exte'riorly threaded neck witha relatively ,wide external'peripheral groove formed therein, the exterior threads of each member being'engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member, a narrow" detent united to the head of each member entering and engaging the groove in the neck of the preceding member, means rigidly uniting one terminal member'of' each series '[to its shaft,

means formed upon the oppositeterminal member for manually rotating it .upon its; shaft to cause the intermediate revolve upon the shaft in the same direction un-' til their limit of travel has been reached, corresponding series of annular spacing members severally mounted upon the heads of the adjusting members of each series which are free to rotate therein but secured against lateral-separation by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extending "into peripheral grooves formed in the-heads, arms united to the spacing members to engage, guide and space the blades in correspondence with the spacingof the spacing members, means to secure the spacing members from rotation and a pair of idler-pulleys -carried.by the frame intermediate the'cylin'drical' pulleys at right angles thereto to lead the blade from the end of one cylindrical pulley transversely-of the machine and to the opposite end of the other cylindrical pulley.

4. In a' bread slicing machine, the combination withsupportingmeanaof a reciprocating frame traveling therein, by the frame, opposed series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon the shafts each having an interiorly threaded head and an exterio'rly threaded neck, an, external peripheral groove formed in each head a'n'din each neck, the

exterior threads of each member being engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member, a narrow detent united to the head of each member entering and engaging the groove in the neck of the preceding member, which groove is wider than the detenhmeans rigidly uniting one terminal member of each series to its shaft, gmeans orin'edfupon the opposite ter- "-shaft t cause the intermediate members to sucing into the r extremities united to opposed arms pluralitybf'flgure 8 loops, a Y

succeeding heads,

members to successively a pair of spaced-shafts carried ally revolved upon the shaft in the same di- 1 bers which are free to rotate therein but secured against lateral separation therefrom by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extendgrooves of. the heads, slotted arms severally united to the spacing members, to space and carry a plurality of blades which-have their and means to secure the spacing members from rotation upon the adjusting members.

5. A mechanical movement comprising supporting means, a straight rod preferably of circular cross-section supported thereby, a series of sleeves mounted upon said rod all except an end one being rotatable and slidable longitudinally thereon, each sleeve comprising a neck and an enlarged headintegral therewith, the internal surface of the neck'conforming substantially to the rod and the external surface of the'neck being threaded, the internal surface of the head being correspondingly threaded, the threads of the successive necks cooperating with the threads of the succeeding heads to cause progressive motionof' both longitudinally of the rod, detents united to the heads and coacting withrelatively wide grooves upon the necks to limit the travel of and prevent withdrawal of the necks from their one terminal member of the series being rigidly united to the shaftand the opposite terminal member being formed with means for manually'revolving same upon shaft in either direction. W

6. A mechanical movement comprising supportingrneans, a straight rod preferably of cirthe cular cross-section supported thereby, a series of sleeves mounted upon said rod all except an end one being being rotatable and slidable longitudinally thereon, each sleeve comprising a neck and an'enlarged head integral therewith, the internal surface of the neck'conforming substantially to the rod and the external surface of the neck beingthreaded, the internal surface of the head being correspondingly threaded, the threads of these successive necks cooperating with the, threads of the succeeding heads to cause progressive motion of both longitudinally of the rod, an

external relatively wide groove formed in each neck, a narrow plate united to the outer end of each head and extending into the groove of the neck threaded into such head to prevent disengagement of such head and neck.

'7. A bread slicing machine comprising supporting means, a plurality of slicing blades trav- 'eling therein, a transverse shaft carried by the supporting means, a series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon the shaft each having an interiorly threaded head and an exterlorly threaded neck with a relatively wide peripheral groove formed therein, the exterior threads of each member being engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member, narrow detents united to the heads of each membersentering'and engaging the grooves in the next preceding members respectively, one terminal member of the series being rigidly united to the shaft, and the opposite terminal member having an extension by which it may be manuthe shaft to cause theintermediate -members tosuccessively revolve upon the shaft in the same direction up to the limit of their travel, a corresponding series of annular spacing members severally mounted upon the heads of the-adjusting members which are free to rotate therein but secured against-lateral separation; by pins. seated in the spacing members severally and extending into peripheral grooves formed in the heads, arms united to the spacing members to engage, guide and space the blades in correspondence with thespacingof the spacing members, and a second shaft parallel to the'transverse shaft, extensions formed integral with the spacing members having bores formed therein which surround the second shaft and are slidable longitudinally thereon.

8. A bread slicing machine comprising a-supporting column, a pair of adjustably spaced cy-- lindrical pulleys revolvably mounted thereinyan endless band blade reeved upon the pulleys toform a plurality of figure 8 loops, a pair of spaced transverse shafts carried by the supporting means, opposed series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon the shafts respectively, each having an interiorly threaded-head and an exteriorly threaded neck with a relatively wide external peripheral groove formed therein, the exterior threads of each memberjbeing engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member, a'narrow detent united to.

ate'members-to successively revolve upon the shaft in the same direction until their limit of travel has been reached, corresponding series of annular spacing members severally mounted upon the heads of the adjusting members of each series which are free to rotate therein but secured against lateral separation by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extending into peripheral grooves formed in the heads, arms united to the spacing members to engage,guide and space the blades in correspondence with the spacing of the spacing members, a second shaft parallel to each transverse shaft, extensions formed integral with the spacing members having bores formed thereinunited to second shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon.

9. In blade adjusting means for bread slicing machines, the combination with a pairof spaced bars and a support therefor, of opposed series ofadjusting members mounted upon the bars respectively, each series having one only of its terminal members rigidly united to the support and the remaining members being rotatable and slidable longitudinally upon their respective bars, and uniform screw-threaded means formed upon said adjusting member and operatively connecting the adjacent members to each other to cause, when the free terminal members are rotated, said rotatable members'to approach toward or recede from the next succeeding members successively within predetermined limits and produce equal spacing of all of said members when at the limits of their travel in either direction.

10. In blade adjusting means forbread slicing machines, the combination with a pair of spaced bars and a support therefor, of opposed series of adjusting members mounted upon the bars respectively, each series having one only ofits terminal members rigidly united to the support and the remaining members being rotatable and slidable longitudinally upon their respective bars, uniform screw-threaded means formed upon said adjusting members and operatlvely connecting the adjacent members to each other. to cause, when the free terminal members are rotated, said rotatable membersto uniformly approach toward or recede from the next succeeding members within predetermined limits either successively or simultaneously and produce equal spacing of all of said members when at the limits of their travel in either direction, annular supporting and spacing members mounted upon the adjusting members severally in which the adjusting members are free to revolve, crossbars united to the support extending transversely'of the machine parallel to and respectively above and below the spaced bars first, mentioned, longitudinal grooves formed in said crossbars respectively, and pins unitedto the spacing members extending into and co-acting with the slots in their adjacent crossbars respectively to prevent rotational movement ofthe spacing members upon.the adjusting members.

1 1,. In a blade adjusting means for bread slice ing machines, the combination with a pair of spaced bars and a support therefor, of opposed series of adjusting members mounted-upon the bars respectively, each. series having one only of its terminal, members rigidly united to the support and the remaining members being rotatable and slidable" longltudinally upon their respective bars, uniform screw-threaded means formed upon said adjusting members and operatively connecting the adjacent members to each other to cause, when the free terminal members areirotated, said rotatable members to uniformly approach toward or recede from the next succeeding members'within predetermined limits either successively or simultaneously and produce equal spacing of all. of said members when 'at'the limits of their travel in either direction, annular supporting and spacing members mounted upon the adjusting members severally in which. the adjusting members are free to revolve, crossbars united to the support ex- I tending transversely of the machine parallel to and respectively above and below the spaced bars first mentioned, longitudinal grooves formed in said crossbars respectively, pins united to the spacing members extending into and co-acting with the slots in their adjacent crossbars respectively to prevent rotational movement of the spacing members upon the'adjusting members, projecting slotted arms united to the spacing members in opposed pairs, and slicing blades attached to said opposed pairs of arms respectively.

12. In a blade adjusting means for bread slicing machines, the combination with a pair of spaced bars and a support therefor, of opposed series of adjusting members mounted upon the bars respectively, each series having one only of its terminal members rigidly united to the support and the remainingmembers being rotatable and slidable longitudinally upon their respective bars, uniform screw-threaded means formed upon said adjusting members and operatively .connecting the adjacent members to each other to cause, when the free terminal members are rotated, said rotatable members to uniformly approach toward or recede from the next succeeding members within predetermined limits either successively or simultaneously-and produce equal spacing of all of said members when at the limits of their travel in either direction, annular supportingand spacing members mounted upon the adjusting members severally in which the adjusting members are free to revolve, cross-bars united to the support extending transversely of the machine parallel to and respectively above and below the,

. opposite end thereof with its axis extending at a right angle to a line produced from the axis spaced bars first mentioned, longitudinal grooves formed in said crossbars respectively, and means for preventing rotation of the spacing members upon or with the adjusting members.

13. A bread slicing machine comprising a 'sup---.

porting frame, a pair of spaced drums revolvably mounted upon the frame in parallel planes, a band slicing blade reeved upon said drums in figure 8 form with a plurality of parallel slicing courses intermediate the drums, a transverse crossbar united to the frame and spaced from the crossing points of the slicing courses of the blades, a flat-faced pulley revolvably mounted upon the crossbar near one end thereof with its axis secured substantially at a right angleto a line produced from the farther side of the corresponding end of the upper drum to the outer edge of said pulley (referring to the edge farthest from the center of the machine as the outer edge). a second flat-faced pulley revolvably mounted upon said crossbar near the opposite end thereof with its axis extending at a right angle to a line produced from the axis of said pulley to the near side of the corresponding end of the lower drum, said blade being mounted to travel either downwardly from the farther side of the upper drum to the outer edge of the first pulley thence under and partially around said pulley andtransversely to the top of the second pulley thence partly around said second pulley and downwardly to the near side of the lower drum and thence around and undersaid lower drum and back to the opposite side of the corresponding end of the upper pulley, or in the opposite direction.

14. A bread slicing machine as described in claim 8, having a transverse crossbar united to the frame and spaced from the crossing points of the slicing courses of the blades, a short flat-.

faced pulley revolvably mounted upon the crossbar near one end thereof with its axis secured substantially at a right angle to a line produced from the farther side of the corresponding end of the upper cylindrical pulley to the outer edge of said short pulley (referring to the edge farthest from the center of the machine as the outer edge), a second short fiat-faced pulley revolvably mounted-upon said crossbar near the opposite end thereof with its axis extending at a right angle to a line produced from the axis of said pulley to the near side of the lower cylindrical pulley, said blade being mounted to travel either downwardly from the farther side of the upper cylindrical pulley to the outer edge of the first short pulley thence under and partially around said pulley and transversely tothe top of the second short pulley thence partly around said second pulley and downwardly to the near side of the lower cylindrical pulley and thence around said lower cylindrical pulley and back to the opposite side of the corresponding end of the upper cylindrical pulley, or in the opposite direction.

15. A bread slicing machine as describedin claim 8, in combination with a transverse crossbar united to the frame and spaced from the crossing points ofthe' slicing courses of the blades,

a short fiat-faced pulley revolvably mounted upon I the crossbar near one 'end thereof with its axissecured' substantially'a't a right angle to-a' lineproduced from the farther side of the'corresponding end of the-:u'pp'er cylindrical pulley 'to: the outer edge of said short pulley (referring-to the edge farthest from the center of the machine as theouter edge), a second short flat-faced pulley revolvably mounted-upon said crossbar near the around said second pulley and downwardly tothe rear side of the lower cylindrical pulley and thence around said lower cylindrical pulley and back to the opposite side of the corresponding end of the upper cylindrical pulley, or in the opposite direction.

7 16. A bread slicing machine as described in claim 8, in combination with means for lead-' ing the band-blade from one side of one of said cylindrical pulleys transversely across the machine on a line spaced a short distance from the slicing courses of the blades and to the opposite end and side of the other cylindrical pulley.

17. A bread slicing machine as described in claim 13, and means to space the slicing courses of the blade comprising a pair of spaced transverse shafts united to the supporting frame intermediate the drums, opposed series of tubular adjusting members slidably mounted upon the shafts respectively, each having. an interiorly threaded head and an exteriorly threaded neck with a relatively wide external peripheral groove formed therein, the exterior threads of each member being engaged with the interior threads of the next succeeding member, a narrow detent united to ,the head of each member entering and engaging the groove in the neck of. the preceding member, means rigidly uniting one terminal member of each series to its shaft, means formed upon the opposite terminal member for manually rotating it upon its shaft to cause the intermediate members to successively revolve upon the shaft in the same direction until their limit of travelhas been reached, corresponding series of annular spacing members severally mounted upon the heads of the adjust-' ing members of each series which are free to rotate therein but secured against lateral separation by pins seated in the spacing members severally and extending into peripheral grooves formed in the heads, arms united to the spacing members to engage, guide and space the blades in correspondence with the spacing of the spacing members, and means to secure the spacing. members from rotation.

18. A bread slicing machine as described in claim 8, in combination with means for leading the band-blade from one side of one of said cylindrical pulleys transversely across the machine on a line spaced a short distance from the slicing courses of the blades and to the opposite end and side of the other cylindrical pulley, and means for adjusting the. spacing of the cylin drical pulleys. i

19. A bread slicing claim 8, in combination withmeans for leading the band-blade from one side of one of said cylindrical, pulleys transversely across the machine on a Iinejspaced'a short-distance. from the slicing courses, of the blades and to the opp site end 'and' side of the other cylindricalpulley, and

HARRY J. CRINER.

machine as described inv 

